Massachusetts State Senate President Thomas Birmingham topped the agenda of the Brigham and Women’s Physicians Organization’s (BWPO) quarterly meeting on April 24. The meeting was co-sponsored by BWH’s Medical Staff Organization.
Senator Birmingham provided the audience with a status report on the state of health care in the Commonwealth and how that fits into the State’s overall fiscal condition.
Birmingham described Boston’s health care system as a leading entity that is the envy of cities across the nation. He also explained that because of this leadership, medical centers and state government have the moral obligation and political opportunity to lead the nation on the provision of health care.
However, Birmingham realizes that there is much more work to be done in assisting hospitals to maintain the high level of quality care to the patients who need it most. He specifically noted the recent $45 million worth of Medicaid relief in the State budget as a move in the right direction, but commented that that amount of relief is a small step to address a much larger need. “Identifying a problem is not the same as identifying a solution,” said Birmingham, who was then eager to hear the feedback from the physicians and administrators from BWH and Partners who attended the meeting.
A volley of questions and answers followed Birmingham’s remarks, which led to an open dialogue on the latest topics in health care between the legislative leader and the inquisitive audience members. Discussion revolved around a pending bill supported by the BWPO to improve the level and timeliness of medical payments to physicians; the challenge of retaining the best minds in medicine in an environment of low reimbursement and high cost of living; the recurring closings of community hospitals; streamlining the physician licensing process; the need to recruit skilled nurses, radiology technologists and other health care professionals; a recently stalled bill that would supply emergency response vehicles with epinephrine; and the application of the tobacco settlement funds.
“It was great for the medical staff to be able to hear from and interact with the Senate President, especially in these tumultuous times. We thought it was really important for the Senator to hear the concerns and ideas of the practicing physician,” said Troy Brennan, MD, president, BWPO.
The meeting was followed by a reception in the Cabot Atrium, where Senator Birmingham spoke informally with physicians and administrators.